Game score keeper

ABSTRACT

A wrist-worn game score keeper is disclosed herein. The wrist-worn game score keeper includes a band portion operable to be worn on a wrist by a user. The wrist-worn game score keeper also includes a body portion connected to opposite ends of the band portion. The wrist-worn game score keeper also includes a display module mountably supported by the body portion. The display module has a display screen and a plurality of buttons. The display screen is operable to generate a display of a score of a game. The buttons are operable to be engaged to change the display generated by the display screen. The display module is operable to display scores in a plurality of different formats.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/595,715 for a GAME SCORE KEEPER, filed on Feb.7, 2012, and also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/632,716 for a WRISTBAND GAME SCORE KEEPER, filedon Jan. 27, 2012, which are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a device that can receive input and displaynumeric data for keeping the score of a game.

2. Description of Related Prior Art

Various other score keeping devices have been proposed in the prior art.Representative of the prior art devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.3,144,252 to Saunders; U.S. Pat. No. 3,220,127 to Wilson; U.S. Pat. No.4,831,956 to Thater; U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,748 to Pettis; U.S. Pat. No.D205,077 to Green; U.S. Pat. No. D300,435 to Harris et al.; U.K designpatent 2,966 to Wilkinson et al.; U.K. patent application 2,053,003 toNightingale; and German Pat. No. 3,925,932 to Peter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In summary, the invention is a wrist-worn game score keeper. Thewrist-worn game score keeper includes a band portion operable to be wornon a wrist by a user. The wrist-worn game score keeper also includes abody portion connected to opposite ends of the band portion. Thewrist-worn game score keeper also includes a display module mountablysupported by the body portion. The display module has a display screenand a plurality of buttons. The display screen is operable to generate adisplay of a score of a game. The buttons are operable to be engaged tochange the display generated by the display screen. The display moduleis operable to display scores in a plurality of different formats.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as thesame becomes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the inventiondisplaying time in a watch or default mode;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the inventiondisplaying time in a general scoring or first mode;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the inventiondisplaying time in a tennis scoring or second mode;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the inventiondisplaying time in a golf scoring or third mode; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of circuitry that can be applied inembodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

The invention, as demonstrated by the exemplary embodiment describedbelow, provides a device that can keep the score of a game being playedby the user. The exemplary embodiment can be worn by a user and providesscore-keeping functions for tennis and golf For tennis scoring, theexemplary embodiment can maintain scoring data associated with the setand with the match. For golf scoring, the exemplary embodiment canmaintain score data for the user by hole and by round. Additional modesof the device permit monitoring of the time of day in hours and minutesas well as keeping score between two players or two teams of players inany game whose winner is determined by point accumulation. This modealso allows for keeping track of simple game statistics or countsgenerally, such as non-athletic activities.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a device 10 according to the exemplaryembodiment of the invention includes a body 12 and a band 14. The band14 extends between opposite ends 16, 18. The ends 16, 18 respectivelyconnect to positions 20, 22 of the body 12. In the exemplary embodiment,the body 12 and band 14 can be integrally-formed. “Integrally-formed”refers to the fact that in the exemplary embodiment the body 12 and band14 can be formed together rather than being formed separately and thensubsequently joined. The term defines a structural feature sincestructures that are integrally-formed are structurally different thanstructures that are comprised of subcomponents formed separately andthen subsequently joined. “Integral” means consisting or composed ofparts that together constitute a whole and thus encompasses structuresof more than one part wherein the parts are either integrally-formed orformed separately and then subsequently joined. The positions 20, 22 arespaced from one another such that the body 12 and the band 14 cooperateto form a loop operable to receive a body part of a user, such as anarm.

The exemplary body 12 can house a display module 23 having electriccircuitry including one or more processors, memory, and input/outputcomponents. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of circuitry that can be appliedin embodiments of the invention. Other circuits of varying sizes andfunctionalities can be applied in other embodiments of the invention.The body 12 can support a viewable display screen 24 of the displaymodule 23 and one or more buttons, such as buttons 26, 28, 30 of thedisplay module 23. The display screen 24 can generate high resolutionoutput. The exemplary display screen 24 can be an LCD screen, but otherdisplay technologies can be used in alternative embodiments of theinvention. The exemplary display screen 24 can display alphanumericimages. In alternative embodiments, a display screen can display graphicsymbols and different colors. The memory of embodiments of the inventioncould be chosen to be large enough to also store data, such as medicaldata and personal contact information.

In the exemplary embodiment, the button 26 can allow the user to directthe processor to vary the mode of operation of the device 10. Forexample, the processor can maintain the device 10 in a “watch mode” as adefault setting or default mode. In other words, the display screen 24can be controlled by the processor to display the time and/or dateand/or other data when the device is not being used to keep score. Anexemplary display associated with the watch mode is shown in FIG. 2.Another mode of operation could be a timer or stop watch mode.

In the exemplary device 10, upon the user pressing the button 26 once,the processor can control the device 10 to change the mode of operationand act in a first mode as a general score keeper. For example, thedisplay screen 24 can be controlled by the processor to display “0” to“0.” This can be viewed as an “all sports” mode since many games arescored with one number for each contestant. An exemplary displayassociated with the general scoring mode is shown in FIG. 3, showing ascore of “14” to “11.” It is noted that changing the score in any of themodes of operation will be described in greater detail below. It is alsonoted that the display can be used for tracking statistics and countsfor non-athletic activities, such as keeping track of the ingestion ofmedication.

In the exemplary device 10, upon the user pressing the button 26 twicestarting from the default mode, the processor can control the device toact in a second mode as a tennis score keeper. For example, the displayscreen 24 can be controlled by the processor to display “L” to “L.” Anexemplary display associated with the tennis scoring mode is shown inFIG. 4, showing a score of “40” to “15.”

In the exemplary device 10, upon the user pressing the button 26 threetimes starting from the default mode, the processor can control thedevice to act in a third mode as a golf score keeper. For example, thedisplay screen 24 can be controlled by the processor to display “0” and“0,” wherein one of the digits represents the score on the immediatehole and the second digit represents the cumulative score. An exemplarydisplay associated with the golf scoring mode is shown in FIG. 5,showing four shots taken on the immediate hole and sixty-two shotscurrently for the round.

Upon the user pressing the button 26 a fourth time starting from thedefault mode, the processor can control the device to return to thedefault mode. Alternative embodiments of the invention can be operablein more than four modes and can display data differently than theexemplary embodiment. It is noted that button 26, as well as the buttons28 and 30, can be spring-loaded to return to respective extendedpositions after having been pressed by a user.

The button 28 of the device 10 can allow the user control variousfunctions for each of the different modes of operation described above.For example, when the device 10 is in watch mode, button 28 can be usedto set and reset the correct hour of the day. While the device 10 is inwatch mode, upon the user pressing and holding the exemplary button 28for three seconds, the hour digit(s) will blink, indicating that thehour can be changed. The button 28 can be pressed repeatedly, asdesired, to advance the hour data up from the currently displayed hourto the desired hour. In this time-change mode, the button 30 can bepressed as desired to reduce the hour data down the currently displayedhour to the desired hour. In the exemplary embodiment, if no button ispressed after five seconds, the time will be set and the device 10 willcontinue to operate in watch mode.

When in general scoring mode, the button 28 operates to maintain thecorrect score in the game. The button 28 can be pressed to advance thescore in increments of one. The button 28 controls the display of thetop value; in FIG. 3 this value is shown as “14.” The button 30 can bepressed to advance the other score in increments of one. The button 30controls the display of the bottom value; in FIG. 3 this value is shownas “11.” The processor can be programmed to interpret various buttonpresses to accommodate other scoring possibilities including decreasingscores, new games wherein the displayed score reverts to “0-0,” andreversion back to the default mode.

When in tennis mode, the button 28 operates to maintain the correctscore in the game. The button 28 can be pressed to advance the “L” ofthe display, as often as required, to “15,” then “30,” and “40.” Thebutton 28 controls the display of the top value; in FIG. 4 this value isshown as “40.” The button 30 can be pressed to advance the other valuedisplayed, as often as required, to scroll through “L,” “15,” “30,” and“40.” The button 30 controls the display of the bottom value; in FIG. 4this value is shown as “15.” The processor can be programmed tointerpret various button presses to accommodate other scoringpossibilities, new games wherein the displayed score reverts to “L-L,”and reversion back to the default mode.

When in golf mode, the button 28 operates to maintain the correct scorein the game. The button 28 can be pressed to advance the score of theimmediate hole in increments of one. The button 28 controls the displayof the top value; in FIG. 5 this value is shown as “4.” The button 30can be pressed to decrease the score of the immediate hole in incrementsof one. The button 30 can be pressed and held for three seconds to addthe score of the immediate hole to the cumulative, round score and alsoto reset the hole score to 0. The round score is shown in FIG. 5 as“62.” The processor can be programmed to interpret various buttonpresses to accommodate other scoring possibilities, new games whereinthe displayed score reverts to “0” for hole score and “0” for roundscore, and reversion back to the default mode.

Thus, the display module 23 is operable to display scores in a pluralityof different formats. A format can correspond to one particular game ora plurality of different games. For example, the score of a tennis matchis displayed in a first format, with letters and only a limited numberof numbers (15, 30, 40). A basketball score defines a second format,different from the first format of tennis since a basketball score doesnot include letters and can include any number. The basketball formatcan be applied to many general games since only numbers are used. Golfscoring defines another format since it is desirable to show two numbersfor each contestant—a cumulative or round score and a current-holescore.

The exemplary band 14 can be worn on the wrist of a user. It is notedthat in alternative embodiments of the broader invention, score keepingdevices can be worn on the leg or bicep. An alternative embodiment couldinclude a band that can be bifurcated and selectively connectedtogether, like a two-piece watch band. Such an embodiment could beselectively engaged with a golf bag during use. Another embodiment couldbe mounted in the back of a divot repair tool or in a tennis racket. Theexemplary embodiment is water-resistant. It is noted that embodiments ofthe invention can be waterproof so that such embodiments could be usedin games played in the water.

The exemplary band 14 can be formed from silicone. The material used toform the band 14 can be infused with negative ion-emitting material topromote the health of the wearer. Pulverized minerals such as germanium,tourmaline, and/or Si Bin can be mixed in with the raw silicone materialprior to molding to infuse the band 14 with negative ion energy. It isbelieved that negative ions yield health benefits.

A titanium face plate (not shown) can be mounted to the body 12 toprotect at least a portion of the display screen 24. Such a face platecan also be desirable for aesthetic reasons.

The processor, the display screen 24, and other electrically-poweredcomponents of the device 10 can be powered by a battery operable tosupply direct current. Such a battery could be rechargeable. Inalternative embodiments, a solar panel could be incorporated to providepower.

Embodiments of the invention can be practiced with display modules thatcan communicate through the display screen 24 as well as anothercommunication scheme. For example, embodiments of the invention can beoperable to communicate through Bluetooth, Wifi, and/or a cellular phonenetwork. Embodiments of the invention may also incorporate a USB portfor communication.

In other embodiments of the invention, the display module 23 can alsoinclude circuitry, programming, a speaker, and any other necessarycomponents to generate audible sounds. For example, the display module23 could be operable to operate in an alarm mode, such that the usercould set an audible alarm to go off at a desired time. Such alarmscould also be communicated to the user by vibration in other embodimentsof the invention.

In other embodiments of the invention, the display module 23 can alsoinclude circuitry, programming, and any other necessary components tofunction as a pedometer. U.S. Pat. No. 8,042,390 is hereby incorporatedby reference for its teaching regarding the incorporation of pedometerfunction to a portable electric device. Further, the display module 23can also include circuitry, programming, and any other necessarycomponents to function as heart rate monitor, a global positioningsystem, a thermostat, an accelerometer, an altimeter, a barometer,and/or wireless car key.

The particular preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention shown inthe Figure is of a design to optimize its use by a game player. Thedesign of the device 10 is intended to minimize interference withvarious body and arm movements required by game play and to permitefficient and time-saving data entry to provide continuous scoreupdating. While the Figures depict a unified construction embodying theelements of a display screen and multiple data input initiator buttons,it could easily be separated into two or more of its elements whereinthe invention may embody a separate display screen comprising multipledata input initiators, which may be attached to one or more strapelements for affixing to a player's wrist. Further, the band 14 and body12 could be formed separately and connected together in alternativeembodiments of the invention. This feature would allow the band 14 to bereplaced for aesthetic reasons. Additional embodiments may be consideredconsistent with the disclosed invention as well.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplaryembodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Inaddition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situationor material to the teachings of the invention without departing from theessential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the inventionnot be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best modecontemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the inventionwill include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appendedclaims. Further, the “invention” as that term is used in this documentis what is claimed in the claims of this document. The right to claimelements and/or sub-combinations that are disclosed herein as otherinventions in other patent documents is hereby unconditionally reserved.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wrist-worn game score keeper comprising: a bandportion operable to be worn on a wrist by a user; a body portionconnected to opposite ends of said band portion; a display modulemountably supported by said body portion and having a display screen anda plurality of buttons, wherein said display screen is operable togenerate a display of a score of a game and said buttons are operable tobe engaged to change the display generated by the display screen, andwherein said display module is operable to display scores in a pluralityof different formats.
 2. The game score keeper of claim 1 wherein saiddisplay module is further defined as being operable to display the timewhen not displaying a score.
 3. The game score keeper of claim 1 whereinsaid band portion and said body portion are integrally-formed.
 4. Thegame score keeper of claim 1 wherein said display module is furtherdefined as operable to display two different alphanumeric valuescorresponding to the score of a game.
 5. The game score keeper of claim4 wherein each of said displays of two different alphanumeric values arechanged by operation of different buttons of said plurality of buttons.6. The game score keeper of claim 1 wherein said display module isoperable to display scores in a tennis mode, a golf mode, and an allsports mode.
 7. The game score keeper of claim 6 wherein said displaymodule is operable to display a score in the tennis mode includingnumeric and alphabetic characters.
 8. The game score keeper of claim 7wherein said display module is operable to display a score in the golfmode including a cumulative value and immediate value.
 9. The game scorekeeper of claim 8 wherein said display module is operable to display ascore in the all sports mode including at least two different numericvalues.
 10. The game score keeper of claim 1 wherein said display moduleis further defined as being operable to display the time when notdisplaying a score in a twelve-hour clock format and a twenty-four hourclock format.
 11. The game score keeper of claim 1 wherein a firstbutton is operated to designate a particular mode of operation of thedisplay module from a group of modes consisting of a watch mode, atennis mode, a golf mode, and an all sports mode.
 12. The game scorekeeper of claim 1 wherein said display module is water-resistant.